Palestine
Israel razes Negev Bedouin village —for 86th time
Bulldozers backed by Israeli forces destroyed the “unrecognized” Bedouin village of al-Araqib in the Negev Desert for the 86th time in the last four years.
East Asia
China adopts new national security law
China's top legislature, the NPC Standing Committee, adopted a controversial new National Security Law that increases cyber security powers and "ideological control over the public."
Greater Middle East
Egypt: clashes in Cairo; ‘war’ in Sinai
A protester was killed at a Cairo rally in support of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, as Egypt's military luanched air-strikes on ISIS-aligned militant forces in the Sinai Peninsula.
Planet Watch
BP in $18.7 billion settlement over 2010 oil spill
BP reached a settlement with the US Justice Department requiring the company to pay $18.7 billion in penalties and damages to settle all claims regarding the 2010 Gulf oil spill.
Planet Watch
New York state puts fracking ban in place
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation released a final environmental impact statement on the dangers of fracking, officially banning the practice in the state.
Iraq
UNESCO sees ISIS war crimes at heritage sites
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee warned that extremist groups' destruction of antiquities and heritage sites in conflict zones could amount to war crimes.
Greater Middle East
Human Rights Watch sees war crimes in Yemen
Human Rights Watch issued a report charging violations of international humanitarian law in the Saudi-led air campaign against Shi'ite rebels in Yemen.
Greater Middle East
Turkish enviros block road to mine site
Local residents and environmentalists blocked the road to a forest area in the Cerattepeli region of Turkey's Black Sea province of Artvin to block preparation of a mining project.
Greater Middle East
Egypt: ISIS claims deadly Sinai attacks
ISIS-affiliated militants launched near-simultaneous raids on military checkpoints in the north of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, with at least 100 killed in the resultant clashes.
Greater Middle East
Egypt: top prosecutor killed in car bomb attack
Egypt's chief prosecutor, Hisham Barakat, was killed by a car-bomb attack on his motorcade in Cairo. A group calling itself "Popular Resistance in Giza" claimed responsibility.
Africa
Boko Haram war spills into Chad
Authorities in Chad announced the arrest of key Boko Haram leaders amid a wave of deadly suicide bombngs in the capital, N'Djamena.
Africa
Ivory Coast fights Ansar Dine along Mali border
Ivory Coast sent troops into Mali after Islamist militia Ansar Dine staged a series of raids along the border between the two countries, briefly seizing several towns.